ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was pleasantly surprised when Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom honored a decades-old ticket that he received as a family keepsake. Matthew Ables, the ticket’s owner, shared his experience in a TikTok video that has gone viral, garnering over nine million views.
In the video, Ables explains how the one-day pass, purchased in 1978 for a mere $8, had been sitting unused for years. He referred to it as a “golden ticket” to the Florida theme park, realizing that it had no expiration date and had never been used.
Taking a chance, Ables flew to Orlando with the old ticket in hand, uncertain of its validity. Despite initial concerns from a park employee who appeared to void the ticket, he was ultimately granted admission to the Magic Kingdom for the day.
Ables expressed disbelief in the video, highlighting the significant price difference between the 1978 purchase and the current cost of a similar ticket, which can be as high as $164. The heartwarming story of the old ticket’s unexpected redemption has captivated social media users and Disney enthusiasts alike.